Cracks In The Duty: When Engineers Miss The Foundations

The Supreme Court of Tasmania considered that an engineer owed a duty to undertake its own investigations to ensure that the existing footings of a residential property were adequate to support a renovation and extension when providing engineering input into plans drawn by an architect.

In issue

• The Court considered whether a duty of care existed requiring an engineer to evaluate the adequacy of the existing footings when advising on a residential renovation and extension, and whether the failure to undertake such an assessment amounted to professional negligence.

The background

The plaintiff and his wife purchased a house in 2010 (which had been constructed in 1983) and undertook renovations to make it suitable as a retirement home for them. The renovations included alterations and extensions to the existing lower-level and the addition of an upper level containing 5 additional rooms.